Al-Hujurat

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (O ye who believe! Be not forward in the presence of Allah): '(O ye who believe! Be not forward in the presence of Allah) do not start with any word or action until the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) commands or prohibits you first; it is also said that this means: do not start immolating your sacrifices on the day of immolation (and His messenger) until you receive Allah's command and the command of His Messenger; it is also said that this means: do not oppose the Messenger; and it is said this means: do not contravene the Book of Allah or the practice of His Messenger, (and keep your duty to Allah) fear Allah in relation to saying or doing anything without the command of Allah or of His Messenger, and do not oppose the Book of Allah or the practice of His Messenger. (Lo! Allah is Hearer) of what you say, (Knower) of your works. This was revealed about three prophetic Companions who killed two men from Banu Salim when the Muslims had a peace treaty with them, without being commanded to do so by Allah or by His Messenger. Allah, glorified and Exalted is He, forbade them from engaging in any matter without a command from Allah or His Messenger.

(O ye who believe!) This was revealed about Thabit Ibn Qays Ibn Shammas who raised his voice in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) upon the visit of the delegation of Banu Tamim. And so Allah forbade him from doing so. Allah said: O you who believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an; in reference to Thabit, (Lift not up your voices above the voice of the Prophet) Allah bless him and give him peace, nor insist in talking when the Prophet (pbuh) is talking, (nor shout when speaking to him) nor call him by his first name (as ye shout one to another) as you would do with one another; rather you should reverence and honour him and address him by: �O Prophet of Allah� or �O Messenger of Allah� or �O Abu'l-Qasim�, (lest your works be rendered vain while ye perceive not) lest your good works be nullified for failing to observe propriety and reverence towards the Prophet (pbuh) while not knowing that your works are nullified.

(Lo! they who subdue their voices) this also was revealed about Thabit Ibn Qays Ibn Shammas after he was prohibited from raising his voice (in the presence of the Messenger of Allah) Allah bless him and give him peace, praising him for lowering his voice in the presence of the Prophet (pbuh) saying: they who subdue their voice in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (those are they whose hearts Allah hath proven) those are they whose hearts Allah has cleansed and purified (unto righteousness) from sin; it is also said that this means: those are they whose hearts Allah has made sincere to the profession of Allah's divine Oneness. (Theirs will be forgiveness) of their sins in the life of the world (and immense reward) and abundant reward in the Garden.

(Lo! those who call thee from behind the private apartment) this was revealed about a folk from Banu 'Anbar, from the Khuza'ah tribe to whom the Prophet (pbuh) sent a military expedition under the leadership of 'Uyaynah Ibn Hisn al-Fazari. When they heard of the advance of this expedition towards them, they fled, leaving behind their wives and children and properties. Their wives and children were taken captive and brought to the Prophet (pbuh). The men who fled went to Medina to ransom their wives and children and entered the city at the time of the siesta. They called: �O Muhammad, come out to see us�, while he was sleeping. Allah censured them for doing so, saying: (Lo! those who call you from behind the private apartment most of them) all of them (have no sense) do not understand Allah's command or divine Oneness nor the reverence due to Allah's Messenger.

(And if they) the Banu 'Anbar (had patience till thou camest forth unto them) for the prayer, (it had been better for them) he would have freed all their wives and children; instead he freed half of them and agreed the ransom of the remaining half. (And Allah is Forgiving) He forgives whoever repents of them, (Merciful) in that He did not hasten His punishment on them.

(O ye who believe! If an evil-liver) this was revealed about al-Walid Ibn 'Uqbah Ibn Ma'it who was sent by the Prophet (pbuh) to Banu'l-Mustaliq to collect their alms; instead he came back claiming that they wanted to kill him. The Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions were about to set forth to conquer them but Allah forbade them from doing so, saying: O you who believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an if a hypocrite, al-Walid Ibn 'Uqbah, (bring you tidings) brings you news about Banu'l-Mustaliq, (verify it) check whether the news are true or false, (lest ye smite some folk in ignorance and afterward repent of what ye did) regret killing them.

(And know) O believers (that the Messenger of Allah is among you) is with you. (If he were to obey you in much of the government) in much of what you request, (ye would surely be in trouble) you would surly sin; (but Allah hath endeared the faith) the belief in Allah and His Messenger (to you and hath beautified it in your hearts) and made it seem good in your hearts, (and hath made disbelief) denial of Allah and His Messenger (and lewdness) hypocrisy (and rebellion) and all transgressions (hateful unto you. Such) those who have such traits (are they who are rightly guided.

(It is) a bounty and a grace from Allah) that He honoured the believers; (and Allah is Knower) of honouring the believers, (Wise) in placing in their hearts love of faith and hatred of disbelief, lewdness and rebellion.

(And if two parties of believers fall to fighting) this was revealed about the hypocrite 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul and his host and 'Abdullah Ibn Rawahah, a true believer, and his companions; these two parties fell to fighting after an exchange of words, and so Allah forbade them from fighting each other and commanded them to make up, saying, (And if two parties of believers fall to fighting then make peace between them) by referring to the Book of Allah. (And if one party of them) the party of 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul (doeth wrong to) persists and transgresses against (the other) the party of 'Abdullah Ibn Rawahah al-Ansari, and refuses to make peace by referring the matter to the Qur'an, (fight ye that which doeth wrong till it return unto the ordinance of Allah) until it accepts to make peace by referring to the ordinances of the Qur'an; (then, if it return) if it accepts to make peace by referring the matter to the Book of Allah, (make peace between them justly, and act equitably) towards both parties. (Lo! Allah loveth the equitable) Allah loves those who judge justly by the Book of Allah, and act upon it.

(The believers are naught else than brothers) in religion. (Therefore make peace between your brethren) by means of the Book of Allah (and observe your duty to Allah) and fear Allah regarding that which He commands you regarding making peace (that haply ye may obtain mercy) and not be punished.

(O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk) this was revealed about Thabit Ibn Qays Ibn Shammas who mentioned a man of the Helpers with something bad; he mentioned the man's mother about whom he used to taunted in the pre-Islamic period, but Allah forbade him from saying ill things about fellow believers, saying: (O ye who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an; referring here specifically to Thabit! (Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they (are)) in the sight of Allah and also better in the share they have with Him, (nor let women (deride) women) this was revealed about two of the wives of the Prophet (pbuh) who derided Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet, and Allah forbade them from doing so (who may be better than they are) in the sight of Allah and also better in the share they have with Him; (neither defame one another) do not defame your believing brothers nor backbite against each other, (nor insult one another by nicknames) which were used in the pre-Islamic period. (Bad is the name of lewdness) it is bad to call your brother: �O Jew�, �O Christian�, �O Magian� (after faith) after having accepted faith and turned his back on all that. (And whoso turneth not in repentance) from calling his brothers with such names and nicknames after having accepted faith, (such are evil-doers) such are those who harm themselves with punishment. This was revealed about Abu Burdah Ibn Malik al-Ansari and 'Abdullah Ibn Hadrad al-Aslami who had a dispute and Allah forbade them from doing so.

(O ye who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an! (Shun much suspicion) this was revealed about two Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) who backbit Salman al-Farisi and also thought ill of Usamah, the Servant of Allah's Messenger (pbuh). They spied on him to see whether Usamah did really have what the Prophet (pbuh) asked him to give to them. Allah therefore forbade them from having a bad opinion about others, as well as from suspicion and spying; and so He said: O you who believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an, shun much suspicion about your brother's ins and outs (for lo! some suspicion is a crime) for some ill thoughts and what you hide are sins; this is what the two men thought of Usamah. (And spy not) and do not scrutinise the faults of your brother, nor reveal that which Allah has concealed about him; and this is exactly what the two men did, (neither backbite one another) the two backbit Salman. (Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother) unlawfully without any necessity? (Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)) you deem eating the flesh of a carrion unlawful unless it is out of necessity, consider backbiting your brother likewise! (And keep your duty (to Allah)) fear Allah regarding backbiting anyone. (Lo! Allah is Relenting) Allah forgives whoever repents of backbiting, (Merciful) towards whoever die repentant.

(O mankind!) This was revealed about Thabit Ibn Qays Ibn Shammas who said to a man: �You are the son of so-and-so� in reference to his mother; and it is also said that it was revealed about Bilal the muezzin of the Prophet (pbuh). When Bilal gave the call to prayer in Mecca after its conquest, a group of men from Quraysh, among whom were Sahl Ibn 'Amr, al-Harth Ibn Hisham and Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb, said: �Did Allah and His Messenger not find anyone to call to prayer except this raven�. In response, Allah said: (Lo! We have created you male and female) from Adam and Eve, (and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you) in the Hereafter, (in the sight of Allah) on the Day of Judgement, (is the best in conduct) in the life of the world; which in this case is Bilal. (Lo! Allah is Knower) of your status and lineage, (Aware) of your works and standing in His sight.

(The wandering Arabs say: We believe) this was revealed about Banu Asad who had suffered a very hard year and consequently joined Islam and moved with all their families and children to Medina to benefit from the Prophet's donations. But their presence in Medina caused a rise in the price of foodstuffs and the streets of Medina became full of their impurities. In fact, these people were hypocrites who kept reiterating: �O Messenger of Allah! We are true believers, so do feed us and be generous with us�. When Allah mentioned their claim, the wandering Arabs of Banu Asad said: �We are genuine in our faith in Allah and His Messenger�. But Allah said: (Say) to them, O Muhammad: (Ye believe not) you are not genuine in your faith in Allah and His Messenger, (but rather say �We submit�) we submit so that we may be spared from the sword and captivity, (for the faith hath not yet entered into your hearts) for love and sincerity of faith have not entered your hearts. (Yet, if ye obey Allah and His messenger) inwardly as you obey him outwardly and repent of inward disbelief and hypocrisy, (He will not withhold from you aught of (the reward of) your deeds) He will not diminish the reward of your works. (Lo! Allah is Forgiving) He forgives whoever repent of you, (Merciful) towards whoever dies repentant.

Allah then explained the traits of those who are true in their faith, saying: (The (true) believers) who are sincere in their faith (are those only who believe in Allah and His messenger and afterward doubt not) in their faith, (but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah) in obedience to Allah. (Such are the sincere) who are true in their faith and striving.

(Say) to Banu Asad, O Muhammad: (Would ye teach) would you inform Allah (Allah your religion) about whether you are sincere or insincere in your religion, (when Allah knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth) when He knows what is in the hearts of all those who are in the heavens and the earth, (and Allah is Aware of all things) of the secrets of the dwellers of the heavens and the earth?

(They make it favour unto thee) Muhammad (that they have surrendered (unto Him)) this is their claim: �O Messenger of Allah, feed us and be generous to us, for we have become Muslim�. (Say) to them, O Muhammad: (Deem not your Surrender a favour unto me; nay, but Allah doth confer a favour on you, inasmuch as He hath led you) that He has called you (to the Faith) to accept the Faith, (if ye are earnest) in your claim that you are true believers; but you are not.

(Lo! Allah knoweth the Unseen of the heavens and the earth) He knows the future events that will take place in the heavens and the earth. (And Allah is Seer of what ye do) O hypocrites, in your state of hypocrisy and He also knows your punishment if you do not repent'.